Tach question
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 622
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From: Urbandale, Iowa
Tach question
I have a tach from a mid 70's F600 ( I'm putting in one of the big truck gauge clusters). It has a drive similar to a speedo, looks like a cable drive.
Now, given that I know absolutely nothing about hooking up a tach, electrical or mechanical, should I have gotten the cable as well as the dash cluster, and (I'm going to sound like an idiot, I know) where does the other end of the cable hook up to? (the yard doesn't let you pull your own parts).
I'm also going to have questions about hooking up the rest of the gauges, like since my current dash has the alternator and oil idiot lights instead of gauges, I need different sending units, yes? The gauges, by the way, do not have specific temps, just a low to high indicator. If I need different sensors, are they available aftermarket or do I have to find them on an engine?
I'm gonna wait on asking the rest of my stupid questions until I pull the cluster out of my truck.
Now, given that I know absolutely nothing about hooking up a tach, electrical or mechanical, should I have gotten the cable as well as the dash cluster, and (I'm going to sound like an idiot, I know) where does the other end of the cable hook up to? (the yard doesn't let you pull your own parts).
I'm also going to have questions about hooking up the rest of the gauges, like since my current dash has the alternator and oil idiot lights instead of gauges, I need different sending units, yes? The gauges, by the way, do not have specific temps, just a low to high indicator. If I need different sensors, are they available aftermarket or do I have to find them on an engine?
I'm gonna wait on asking the rest of my stupid questions until I pull the cluster out of my truck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 8
From: Brea CA
Tach question
The cable wouldn't have bought you much. It's a mechanical tach that hooks up to an FT dizzy with a tach drive. Problem is the FT dizzy won't fit an FE. I'm sure somebody's figured out how to do this.
Barry
Barry
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 622
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From: Urbandale, Iowa
Tach question
Thanks, Barry, I hope I can use it. If not, I'll have to go aftermarket, or just bag the tach altogether. If either of those is the case, I will have wasted my money on a gauge cluster I didn't need, as I got this one just for the tach. My plan was to have the big truck cluster with a vacuum gauge AND the tach. The ones I've seen in the yards have had one or the other, but not both.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Apple Valley CA USA
Tach question
most distributor manufacturers make tach drive units and sell cables. you may not like the price but they will work fine. almost all american cable drive tachs work on the same speed ratio so calibrating is not an issue. check ebay as you may find what you need there. hawkrod
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Tach question
I'm new here, but I can help with gauges. Ford gauges run on 10 Ohms and 76 Ohms, 10 is the high end, 76 the low. You can go go to your local electronics parts outlet (i.e. Radio Crap) and get the appropriate resistors to check gauge calibration. Hook the gauge up to the truck wiring like you're gonna use it, then go out the wire that hooks up to the sender and connect it to the 10 Ohm resistor and the other end of the resistor to ground - the gauge should read the high end. Do it again with 76 ohms to check the low end. As far as senders go, just get the ones for your truck with the gauge option, Fords used the same setup forever, they'll work OK.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock, TX
Tach question
I picked up a small tach from Advance. I fastened it to the column with a large hose clamp and put a piece of cut-it-yourself rubber under the clamp to protect the paint. Installation is a no-brainer, and if you get the small-diameter guage and mount it just right, it looks unobtrusive and actually quite nice. It clearly isn't stock, but the look isn't bad at all.
I've got a question along similar lines. I picked up a deluxe cluster with oil pressure guage and ammeter guage to replace my idiot light cluster. Can I just swap this in, or do I need to change anything to get the ammeter to work correctly? I've got a mechanical oil pressure guage anyway, so I won't be worrying about swapping a pressure sensor there. I'd just hook it up, but the thought of starting an electrical fire just isn't that appealing to me.
I've got a question along similar lines. I picked up a deluxe cluster with oil pressure guage and ammeter guage to replace my idiot light cluster. Can I just swap this in, or do I need to change anything to get the ammeter to work correctly? I've got a mechanical oil pressure guage anyway, so I won't be worrying about swapping a pressure sensor there. I'd just hook it up, but the thought of starting an electrical fire just isn't that appealing to me.
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Floyd, Va
Tach question
You could take appart your cluster and remove the mechanical tac. Then put in an electrical tac using the face from the mechanical one. If you have to, paint the needle to match the others. I did this in a 70 chevy pickup, and you couldnt tell it wasnt factory. I havnt done this yet in my ford, but as soon as i find an old truck cluster for free i will.
Tony Warren
Nebraska
Tony Warren
Nebraska
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: East of Toronto/ WV
Tach question
Hey guys, someone told me ...
the only thing you have to do is buy a tach drive distributor in order to run the old in dash tach from the F-700. In fact I already did the homework. Buy a dual point Mallory distributor and purchase a pertronics electronic unit to install in the dist.
I also have the info on where to get the pieces to do this, but don't know if posting them here is legal, dont want to step on any advertisters toes...
Matt
the only thing you have to do is buy a tach drive distributor in order to run the old in dash tach from the F-700. In fact I already did the homework. Buy a dual point Mallory distributor and purchase a pertronics electronic unit to install in the dist.
I also have the info on where to get the pieces to do this, but don't know if posting them here is legal, dont want to step on any advertisters toes...
Matt